Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GLAD NEW YEAR, by WILLIAM SHATTUCK


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GLAD NEW YEAR, by                    
First Line: There's coming a year all mirth and joy
Last Line: Are you that happy, glad new year?
Subject(s): Holidays; New Year; Time


THERE'S coming a year all mirth and joy
With a wealth of gladness in every week,
As gay as a girl and as blithe as a boy —
Maybe this is the year we seek,
When a brightened eye and a mantling cheek
Tell tales of happiness and cheer:
Ho, young newcomer, up and speak! —
Are you that happy, glad New Year?

There's a year all gold without alloy,
With never a day that's chill and bleak,
With never a storm to bring annoy —
Maybe this is the year we seek,
With not one gale to shrill and shriek,
No rain to wet, no heat to fear,
No hail, no dust, no mud, no reek:
Are you that happy, glad New Year?

In that great year no sweet shall cloy,
Nor darkling clouds our sky shall streak,
Good fortune be no longer coy —
Maybe this is the year we seek,
When all, like stars on a mountain-peak,
See Heaven as clearer and more near,
No hates to hoard nor wraths to wreak:
Are you that happy, glad New Year?

L'Envoi

O Stranger, hark to our prayer, and eke
(Maybe this is the year we seek)
Answer and tell us the word we'd hear:
Are you that happy, glad New Year?





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